Chase Claypool Already Found Clever Way To Win Over Chicago

Chase Claypool didn’t expect to get traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s never easy for a young player when that happens. He’d grown accustomed to life in that locker room and that city. Now he’s forced to start over with a new team. Chicago is a different animal compared to Pittsburgh. Fans are notoriously hard to please, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Claypool would need some way to break the ice.

It appears he found one. Nobody can say the young receiver doesn’t know his audience. Chicago is one of the most sports-crazed cities in the U.S. They adore all of their franchises and hold tight to their history. So it was a piece of subtle brilliance when Claypool chose his preferred brand of shoes for his first game as a Bear.

Clever man. Tipping his cap to the G.O.A.T himself is an easy way to get many people in his corner. One hopes those shoes will carry him to a productive first outing against the Miami Dolphins.

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— Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool) November 6, 2022

Welcome to #DaBears @chaseclaypool ????

????: #MIAvsCHI on CBS
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— NFL (@NFL) November 6, 2022

Chase Claypool is anxious to prove something.

He was ostracized in Pittsburgh to a degree. Many accused him of being a diva because of his social media presence and not being as committed to football. Combine that with the arrival of George Pickens via the draft, and the Steelers felt he was no longer worth keeping. That can sting anybody. Claypool has something to prove now, and that is great for the Bears. Getting his talent alone was worth it. Getting him hungry is even better.

There is also the contract situation. Chase Claypool will enter the final season of his rookie deal in 2023. He’d likely prefer to get an extension before free agency becomes a factor. The best way to do that is to play well over the remaining nine games of the season. Forging a connection with Justin Fields is a top priority. The two seem to fit well together from a skill perspective. One hopes it will work out.